As West Middle School prepares to close in Auburn, curtain closes on the school's spring plays

Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-StandardThe cast of "Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Musical" pays tribute to producer Sally Reutlinger after the final performance at the West Middle School in Auburn on Sunday.

When the cast of “Thoroughly Modern Millie’’ took their final bow on Sunday, it marked the last performance of West Middle School’s spring musical.

More poignantly, their curtain call punctuated the end of an era at the sixth- to eighth-grade school in Auburn. The musical, which played before a couple hundred people, is the school’s last play -- ever.

West Middle is closing at the end of school year in June. Like many Central New York districts, Auburn city schools face huge financial problems and a declining enrollment. The middle school, which opened in 1938, has staged spring productions since 1982 when Bill Tenity first produced and directed “Bye, Bye Birdie.’’

“It’s going to be sad. I have a lot of good memories,’’ said Tenity, shortly before joining the cast on stage for the final bow. His last play was in 2000.

Like Tenity, Sharon Nelson said she is saddened by what is taking place at West Middle. “I get all choked up talking about it … and I’m going to miss it,’’ she said.

Nelson is one of the many parents who toiled behind the scenes sewing costumes, building sets and working on lighting, programs and publicity.

“It’s truly a labor of love,’’ Nelson said.

She credited long-time producer Sally Reutlinger, a retired teacher, with making sure the shows succeeded year after year.

“She’s quite a lady. She deserves all the accolades,’’ Nelson said.

Reutlinger started designing and sewing costumes in the early 1980s and took the producer’s reins several years ago. In her position, she helped select the plays, pick the cast and stage crews, and organized parent volunteers. Her work typically started at the end of January and consumed many a night and hundreds of hours, Reutlinger said.

She received a bouquet of mixed flowers from the cast and a standing ovation when the show ended.

Reutlinger said she loved working on the plays with the students and parents, and was saddened to see the curtain close on the school and its theater program.

“I’m very disappointed. It’s the end of an era,’’ she said.

For 13-year-old Monica Montgomery, who starred as “Millie’’ in the lead role, the school’s last play served as a bittersweet moment.

Montgomery said she always looked forward to participating in the spring productions each of her three years at West Middle and is sad to see her school being closed.

But the eighth-grader said she hopes the closing of one door opens another for her to continue acting on stage. She plans to audition for high school plays starting next year and aspires to become a professional actress.

“Theater is what I want to do. It’s my favorite thing to do,’’ Montgomery said.